Losses: TB Duane Bennett had 100-plus more carries than any tailback on the team last season and gained 639 yards (3.8 ypc). WR Da’Jon McKnight (51 receptions for 760 yards and 36 more catches than anyone else on the team. S Kim Royston led the team with 123 tackles and was honorable-mention all-conference. LB Gary Tinsley, who died from an enlarged heart following the season, was second with 87 tackles and led the team with 9.0 TFL and 4.0 sacks. DT Brandon Kirksey was a mainstay of the defensive front. DE Anthony Jacobs had 26 tackles and 6.0 TFL.

Preseason ranking: Unranked

Star power: Senior QB MarQueis Gray (6-4, 245) had mediocre passing numbers last season (.507 completion percentage for 1,495 yards and 8 TDs with 8 INTs) but led the team with 966 yards rushing (4.9 ypc) and 6 TDs. His runs/pass ability makes him a potential star.

Outlook: By any definition it was a nightmare season for the Gophers and Kill, a kidney cancer survivor who suffered a seizure during a September loss to New Mexico State. Then Gary Tinsley died following his senior season due to an enlarged heart. The team enters year 2 of Kill’s tenure minus its leading receiver and top tailback, its top two tacklers and several key contributors up front on both sides of the ball. It should be an uphill battle again this season, although the team has a legitimate dual-threat asset at quarterback in Gray, who played as a running back and receiver (Ashton Broyld, anyone?) before taking over the offense. It has a decent core of returning veterans but has significant holes to fill as it tries to build on the 3-9 2011 season. Having a year of Kill’s system under their belts should help, but the feeling here is the young Gophers will endure another rough campaign in the rugged Big Ten this season.